The following pages attempt to provide brief histories of each Rhode Island regiment.
Entries in italics indicate pertinent records held by the R.I.H.S. No effort has been made to track
down every piece of correspondence; civilian records have also been ignored. Particular attention
has been paid to orderly books, muster rolls and soldiers’ diaries.

The large majority of muster rolls and other soldier lists held by the R.I.H.S.L. are
arranged by regiment in several archival boxes and two scrapbooks (“Shepley” volumes 1 and 2)
filed under “Revolutionary War Records” (MSS 673, subgroup 2). A card index to these files is
available in the manuscripts reading room at the library.

The Revolutionary War Military Papers generally consist of documents from Rhode Island
Continental and state regiments, county militia regiments, and independent companies, ranging
from 1775 to 1783. Papers from the Rhode Island black regiment formed by Col. Christopher
Greene and Lt. Col. Samuel Ward Jr. during the summer of 1778 are part of the collection. There
is a small group of papers from Massachusetts Continental regiments and state militia; and single
items for both Connecticut and New Hampshire regiments.

Rhode Island Continental and state regiments represented include those of regimental
commanders Christopher Greene; Jeremiah Olney; Israel Angell; Daniel Hitchcock; Henry
Sherburne; Christopher Lippitt; William Richmond; Archibald Crary; Joseph Stanton; William
Barton; Benjamin Tallman and Robert Elliott. State militia regiments from all Rhode Island
counties are also present, with Providence, Kent, and King’s counties the most widely
represented. Papers from Rhode Island independent militia companies include those of the Kentish
Guards, Pawtuxet Rangers, Smithfield and Cumberland Rangers, and North Providence Rangers.

Lists of soldiers are the most common type of document in the collection, and consist of
muster rolls, pay rolls and abstracts, enlistments, delinquent lists, returns of the sick, and ration
bills. Soldiers of Native-American and African-American lineage can be found in these rolls.
Occasionally, details such as physical appearance (including hair and eye color, complexion, and
height); age; occupation; birth place; and residence are designated. The orderly books, court
martial proceedings, and supply and pay requests in the collection are also a source for soldiers’
names.

The orderly books and court martial accounts are also a good source for a general study
of military, disciplinary, and supply policies and problems in the army. General orders are another
potential source for such information.

A card index for individual soldiers listed among the papers, created in the early 1980s, is
in the Manuscripts Reading Room. The cards list the soldier’s name, the date of the document on
which his name appears, the colonel and captain of his regiment, and the general location of the
document within the collection.

The records were originally a body of papers that were bound into six volumes during the
19th century. Two additional volumes, called the “Shepley volumes”, were purchased by the
society from collector George Shepley in 1938. Other additions were made to the collection in the
latter half of the 20th century, and additions continue to accrue via donation and purchase.

The original six volumes were disbound probably some time in the 1970s. The two
Shepley volumes remain intact. In the early 1980s, manuscripts curator Harold Kemble and
volunteer Renee White created a card file index for the papers which is currently the only index
for the collection. Revolutionary War papers from other RIHS collections, including but not
necessarily limited to the Shepley Collection, RIHS Manuscripts, and RIHS Miscellaneous
Manuscripts, were transferred into the existing collection during the indexing process. During re-processing in 2000, the Providence General Hospital records (formerly MSS 644) were added to
the Revolutionary War Papers, and several smaller transfers were also made.

19th-century indexes for the first five volumes still exist.The first four are item indexes and
the fifth is a name index with references to document numbers. Documents from the original
volumes are usually marked with at least two numbers: an item number (enclosed in the rubber
stamp imprint) and a page number. Some also include a “Rhode Island Military Papers”
(“R.I.M.P”. or “M.P.”) volume designation. It appears that documents originally in volume 5,
however, were not assigned item numbers (see original index).Documents that are not labeled
with a R.I.M.P. volume number can be checked against the original Revolutionary War indexes to
confirm whether or not they were once part of that collection.

When processed during the 1980s, the collection was arranged chronologically and was
divided between “indexed” and “unindexed” papers. Papers from different regiments were
interfiled in both categories. “Indexed” papers were primarily lists of soldiers such as muster
rolls, pay rolls and abstracts, enlistments, sick returns, etc. In 2000, the papers were re-arranged
based primarily on regiment identification instead of indexing status, so that all documents from a
particular regiment, including miscellany such as orderly books, correspondence, and receipts, are
stored together. In cases were there are duplicates of the same document, such as multiple copies
of a muster roll, the duplicates are filed together in a single folder, and the folder is marked
accordingly.

The Providence General Hospital records (Series 10), previously a separate collection,
were bound in 1903, and disbound at an unknown later date. Each document was marked in
pencil with its former page number.

Identification of regiments:

Most of the documents in the collection were identified as to regiments, officers, and dates
by manuscripts curator Harold Kemble and volunteer Renee White in the early 1980s. When the
papers were re-arranged in 2000, some adjustments were made to existing regiment and / or date
designations. Additionally, identifications were made in 2000 for many miscellaneous items that
had never been identified during prior processing as to military unit, state or town.

The main sources used to identify Rhode Island military documents were Joseph Jencks
Smith’s Civil and Military Lists of Rhode Island; Francis B. Heitman's Historical Register of
Officers of the Continental Army; Anthony Walker’s So Few the Brave; and the indexes to the
1774 and 1777 Rhode Island military censuses. The Rhode Island General Assembly’s Acts and
Resolves from the Revolutionary period were also used to determine when regiments were formed
or combined, officers were commissioned or resigned, and so on. For soldiers of Massachusetts
Continental and state militia, the main source used was Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors.
References to “Cowell” on any of the folders signifies the book Spirit of ‘76 in Rhode Island by
Benjamin Cowell.

The printed sources were consulted either independently or in tandem, depending on the
nature of the item being analyzed. At times, information from these sources conflicted slightly or
was incomplete. In such cases, the best possible estimate was made as to identification of
regiment and military personnel. It is entirely possible that errors have been made in identifying
regiments and officers, and any corrections or suggestions from researchers are welcomed and
appreciated.

These began as an “Army of Observation” in 1775, under state control, but after the
expiration of their term in December, they were reenlisted under the command and pay of the
Continental Congress. These are the regiments that did most of the fighting. When you hear a
particular “1st” or “2nd” regiment mentioned, this is probably what is being discussed. The 2nd
Regiment was merged with the 1st in 1781.

Service of these regiments:

May 1775Commissioned as Army of Observation by R.I. General Assembly, under the
leadership of Brig. Gen. Nathanael Greene.

May 1775Served in march to Prospect Hill in Boston

June 1775Enlistments expired; reformed under continental service.

Dec. 1775Church's Third Regiment disbanded.

April 1776 Marched to Long Island

August 1776Greene promoted to Major General; went to serve mostly in southern campaigns.
Replaced by Brig. Gen. James M. Varnum.

Sept. 1776Brigaded with the other two R.I. regiments under Richmond and Lippitt

Winter 1776-7 At Morristown, N.J.

Sept. 1777Fought at Brandywine

Oct. 1777Fought at Germantown and Fort Mercer / Red Bank

Nov. 1777Fought at Fort Mifflin

12/77-6/78At Valley Forge

6/78Fought at Monmouth

1778Varnum's brigade under command of Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, in Rhode Island
campaign.

Winter 1778-9 Camped for winter at Warren, R.I.

1779Both regiments were in Rhode Island, in camp at Barber's Heights, North
Kingstown. after the retirement of Varnum, brigade under command of Brig. Gen.
John Stark, with Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates

Replaced by Col. Christopher Greene, 2/1777. (Both Walker and the RIGA Acts and Resolves
of February, 1777 indicate that Greene was on parole in 1777 and could not take
command right away. Walker says that Greene did not actually take command until July;
Archibald Crary had command from January to April, 1777; Adam Comstock from April
to July, 1777.)

The Continental Regiment led by Col. Henry Sherburne was composed of a mixture of Rhode
Islanders and Connecticut residents. It was active from 1777 to 1781, and was one of 16
“Additional Continental Regiments” that existed during this time. It was brigaded with the two
Rhode Island regiments from June to September of 1777, and from July 1778 to November 1779.

Two regiments formed by the state in October 1775, placed under the pay of Continental
Congress in May of 1776, marched to New York in September of 1776, and disbanded in January
of 1777. These regiments, under Colonels Richmond and Lippitt, played an important role at the
Battles of Trenton and Princeton despite their brief life-span. They were in a brigade with the
other two R.I. Continental regiments, as well as two Massachusetts regiments, under the
command of Col. Hitchcock of the “other” First R.I. Continental Regiment.

Formed in reaction to the British invasion of Newport in 12/1776, and remained in service
through 3/16/1780. They were referred to as the Rhode Island Battalion with attached Artillery
Regiment. Although their service was exclusively in state, they were on active duty in military
campaigns. There were two regiments of infantry (Colonels Crary and Topham being the longest-lasting leaders), and one of artillery (under Colonel Elliott). They were originally in a brigade
commanded by Brig. Gen. Varnum, and later came under the command of Brig. Gen. Ezekiel
Cornell (12/77).

The two regiments of infantry were combined into a single regiment under Col. John
Topham, and a corps of light infantry under Col. William Barton was also raised, in 6/1779
following the resignation of Col. Archibald Crary.

John Handy was designated Brigade-Major in 6/1777.

Changes of personnel in the regiments of infantry can be tracked by consulting the
published Acts and Resolves of the Rhode Island General Assembly, starting with December,
1776.

The dates on folders for Crary’s regiment for the month of December, 1777 were
determined as accurately as possible based on information in existing published sources.
According to the Rhode Island General Assembly Acts and Resolves, Crary took over the 1st
regiment of infantry from Joseph Stanton December 24, 1777, but Stanton had actually resigned
on November 10, 1777. He apparently stayed in command until December.

The state would occasionally call up regiments for brief periods of service to meet specific
emergencies. These regiments seem to have been generally drawn from the state militia.

3-month regiment

Col. John Cook

According to Cowell, this regiment was ordered in September, 1776 by the Council of
War during a recess of the General Assembly. See Cowell, p. 52. Nothing on the formation of this
regiment could be found in the RIGA Acts and Resolves, which seems to support Cowell’s
information.

Records:

MSS 673 Series 3, Sub-series A

Boxes 2, *8

Enlistments (Exeter) and pay lists, 1776 (approximately 6 items)

Muster roll and return of pay at Tiverton, 03/1777

“Corps of Light Infantry, 200 men”

Formed May 1779, Col. William Barton

By March 1780, under Capt. Henry Dayton

Possibly merged with Col. Topham's state regiment

Records:

MSS 673Series 3, Sub-series E

Boxes 2, *8

Muster roll, weekly return and petition of soldiers, 3/1780

“Militia of 1200 Men to Serve within the State one Month and no longer”

These seem to have been largely inactive in battle, and are rarely mentioned in histories of
the war. They were probably more involved in local guard duties and the movements of supplies,
people, and livestock from strategic locales. They were under the control of the state, but were
organized by county. In 2/1780, a one-month 1200-man state militia was recruited, largely from
these officers. After 5/1780, most local Colonels demoted to Lt. Col., under command of a
county Brigadier General.

Changes in personnel for the various regiments of county militia can be traced through the
published Acts and Resolvesof the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Senior Class Regiment of Kings County under Lt. Col. Gideon Hoxsie, formed 5/80

Under Lt. Col. Sylvester Gardner, 5/81

Under Lt. Col. George Thurston, 5/82

Records:

MSS 673Series 4, Sub-Series C

Boxes 3, *9, *10, and Shepley

Various lists and miscellaneous items, 1775-1782 (most to 1778)

Statements re: capture of ship Syren off Point Judith in November, 1777 and
account related to same; lists of men involved in the capture, including
Samuel Potter’s company and Robinson’s regiment of Massachusetts
militia, ca. 1778.

Transcripts of above statements re: Syren; also transcription of list of men under
Capt. Larkin of Col. Robinson's Regiment involved in capture of Syren,
same date, and short essay on the battle (typescript). List of South
Kingstown enlistees, 9/1776, formerly in 1776 folder (NF 2000).

There were many small town-based militia companies that played a more or less active
role in the conflict. They were not apparently under direct state control. Their leaders were
usually captains, but were sometimes styled colonels.

In addition to the papers of military units, there is also a sizeable collection of documents
from this military hospital, which was apparently established in Tiverton in 1777. The records
consist mainly of returns of the sick, ration bills, and receipts and accounts for medical supplies.
Besides providing genealogical information, the papers furnish a glimpse into the medicines and
treatments in use during the Revolutionary period, and into the system of provision and exchange
of medical supplies during the war itself.

The returns of the sick, especially, are a good genealogical resource. They usually include,
besides the soldiers’ names, their company or regiment, medical condition, and duty status, such
as “convalescent”, “discharged”, or “absent without leave.” Often these returns list soldiers from
prison ships. Among general returns for the hospital are ones listing particular regiments, mostly
those of Colonel Daggett (Massachusetts) stationed at Warwick, and Colonel John Topham and
General Ezekiel Cornell of Rhode Island, stationed at Tiverton. There are also several for Colonel
Topham’s regiment which specifically list smallpox victims (or possibly those who had been
innoculated).

Ration bills list ailing soldiers along with an indication of what type of diet they were on,
for instance, “half diet” or “fever.” They do not usually list a soldier’s military assignment, though
some list black soldiers separately. Several of the ration bills in the collection are torn or faded,
making it difficult (in some cases impossible) to decipher soldiers’ names.

There is a difference between regiments recruited from R.I. men, and regiments stationed
in R.I. For parts of the war, other states’ Continental Army units were stationed in Rhode Island;
they were mostly Massachusetts regiments. General Spencer had charge of these units in 1777,
and was replaced by Maj. General John Sullivan on 2/21/1778.

Some of the persons listed below may not have even been stationed in Rhode Island, in
which case their connection to our state is tenuous.

MSS 673Series 8 and 9

Boxes 3, *9

There are approximately 25 folders of items from Massachusetts regiments, dated
1775-1780. Some were stationed in Rhode Island; for instance, Col. John
Robinson’s regiment, stationed in King’s County in 1777. Items include
orderly books, enlistments, muster rolls, pay rolls, and receipts. Several
companies and regiments are represented.

Orderly book kept by Capt. Silvanus Reed of a New Hampshire regiment, in
brigade with R.I. regiments during the Rhode Island campaign, 5/1778 -
8/1778

List of Capt. Elisha May’s company, Col. John Durkee (Conn.), 10/1776

MSS 786Many other Connecticut items (e.g., regiments commanded by Col. John Ely) in
the papers of commissary Asa Waterman

MSS 9001-MJohn Medbury. Lt. in American army in New York. Diary, July 1776.